, 1887-01-06
About Alaska.


con- Wg-Eny'a- Pos'-
TO tire Editor Of the Post: As l
am in Teceip. Of letters asking for
information concerning Alaska. beg
leave 10 answer these communications
through the columns OF your paper,
hoping that the same may prove
interesting and useful to the general
public
To be clearly understood, | must
here divide Ala ka into four gaogra
phical districts. The first trends
from Fort TuugaS 10 the south slope
of the Aleutiau islands. ard Is known
as southeastern Alaska; the second
reaches from the AlcutIan Islands
TO the Arctic and is known as Tn
alaska: the third i bounded by the
entire coast range of mountains and
Is known as the interior of Alaska
fourth takes IN that portion known as
the Arctic Slope.
As the Arctic district Is entirely
beyond the business reach of this
generation. no further allusion there
to Is necessary.
From information furnished by
reliable prospectors, also from other
sources. the interior district, except
ing for the fur catch, is, at present
worthless. 1t is possible that mineral
discoveries may yet attract emigra-
ton thereto; but, as there is neither
farming nor grazing land, the future
expansion of this lovely belt Of coun-
try must be regulated by mineral
development.
Unalaska is, l regret to say, en-
tirely controlled by the Alaska Seal
Fur company. 1t is an iron -clae
monopoly, and its operations are
violations of the rights of a democra
tic people. Why should the govern
ment of the nation lease the islands
of st. Paul and st. George to trad
ing company any more than the sea
OUTER banks, or the inland ranges
over which the silver gray foxes
roam? 1t was job-pure and sim
pie. Necessarily there is no chance
for the development of any other
enterprise in the district.
The commercial enterprises of the
territory, excepting the operations of
the Alaska Seal Fur company, are
confined to southeastern Alaska.
The leading industries are fish and
mineral, and these enterprises at
present do not give employment to
200 white men. in reality there is
but one quartz mining property in
operation in the entire territory, and
that is on Douglas island, near Ju-
neau City. The timber interest is
confined almost exclusively to this
district and is vastly overrated. The
forests of yellow cedar which we hear
about from tourists are limited in
size and confined to a small range
joining the British Columbia region
near Fort Simpson. The spruce and
hemlock cover the entire coast range
of the district, but there is really no
market even for the spruce. There
is no agricultural or pastoral range
either in southeastern Alaska or the
territory.
The entire white population of
Alaska may be rated at not ssmore
l,2OU men, women and children. OF
tins number not more than 500 are
dents of southeastern Alaska, and
the others are scattered over the
other districts. The Indian tribes
are said TO number about 10000 men,
women and children. They are in
du5tsously inclined, and if not mis-
used, will never make any trouble for
the white people.
With the foregoing showing, why
should the nation extend the right
OF full form Of territorial govern
ment to the inhabitants of Alaska
All that the people of tha territory
would now most wish for would be q
ccdifcation of the laws: the Organic
act amended SO as to allow the i'm
Portation of liquor, which would
bring the internal revenue service,
and The limited extension of the land
lawS. Ia connection her. with Il
battalion of soldiers should be sent to
Alaska. The military should never
have been removed from that station.
L remain respectfully yours,
JOHN MCCAFFERTY.